When a dusty photo album ignited a storm of public discourse,  
When a young American lifted the weight of history before the camera,  
He wrote a story of "letting go" with courage that transcended borders.  

He walked the land of China,  
Capturing its cultural stories through his lens.  
Known as a "Guardian of Chinese History"  
And a bridge for Sino-American cultural exchange,  
He is this season’s guest: Evan Kuhl,  
The international friend honoured with China’s diplomatic gift porcelain.  

Produced by Shede Liquor and Phoenix TV, the seventh season of *The Wisdom of Letting Go* is now airing. Watch how Evan Kuhl crossed boundaries to safeguard historical truth and build a bridge for East-West cultural exchange.  

**"I’ve always wanted to be a storyteller. It all began in a high school film class when I was 17."**  

Evan reminisced, "We had an assignment to write a short film script of 4 to 12 minutes. I ended up drafting one spanning 60 to 70 pages. My teacher praised my imagination—it was my first script, and it set me on the path to pursuing a career in entertainment."  

With dreams in his heart, Evan once aspired to become a Hollywood screenwriter. For two decades, he wrote film scripts, produced music videos, commercials, and even musicals.  

At his lowest point, he moved seven times in a year, living out of a suitcase in a friend’s repossessed house without heating or running water.  

He questioned his life: "What else can I do? Will I be poor forever?"  

Yet these hardships never dulled his resolve. "I’m a determined person—not easily discouraged or deterred. When I set my mind to something, I give it my all." He let go of his singular obsession with filmmaking and instead gathered wisdom from life’s crossroads.  

In 2019, introduced by his father, Evan stumbled into an apprenticeship in collectibles trading—a world that opened new horizons for him.  

After seven or eight months in the shop, he applied his filmmaking knowledge to this seemingly unrelated field. His years of experience finally found purpose.  

He channelled his skills into his *Pawn Man* social media account. Combining niche subjects with storytelling, he filmed his interactions with clients and sales processes, quickly amassing 30,000 followers.  

"I’m grateful for every experience I’ve had—every mistake, failure, pain, and hardship. They shaped who I am today," Evan reflected.  

"Finding direction in uncertainty, discovering oneself through struggle"—letting go is not surrender, nor is failure the end. Every "loss" fuels the momentum for "gain."  

True wisdom lies in giving every lost dream a second chance to mature. Evan let go of his Hollywood "film dream" but rediscovered his initial passion for storytelling.  

**The photo album marked the beginning of his bond with China.**  

As a pawnshop owner, Evan acquired an album whose contents chilled him to the bone. He realised it was "irrefutable evidence of war crimes" that belonged in a museum.  

Believing such artefacts should be preserved, studied, and documented, he tried donating it—but received no response. So he turned to social media.  

In September 2022, his video went viral. His followers surged from 200,000 to 1.2 million, and American media took notice.  

To his surprise, Chinese visitors flocked to his shop—some embracing him in tears, others offering flowers. "Their emotions made me realise this album belongs to China."  

Yet a critical misjudgement in the video’s details sparked doubts about its credibility, plunging him into crisis.  

"After the smear campaign accusing me of fabricating history, I wore a bulletproof vest the next day. I thought my life might be over," Evan admitted.  

Still, he resolved to donate the album to the Chinese consulate.  

"The photo captions may have been inaccurate, but the album’s value lies in confronting the world with historical truth. It tells China’s story—a symbol of its history. Its rightful place shouldn’t be decided by an American."  

Traffic is a double-edged sword, but truth outweighs it. In this act of letting go, he abandoned commercial valuation, driven by an unshakable resolve to ensure history would no longer be buried or forgotten. What he gained was cross-cultural empathy.  

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**The album forged an unbreakable bond between Evan and China.**  

He began exploring the country, capturing its authentic essence—from pawnshop trades in the U.S. to the vibrant pulse of Chinese streets. He found a new way to share "distant Eastern culture" as "tangible civilisation."  

Inspired by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films in his youth, Evan had long admired Chinese martial arts.  

He described it as "art," contrasting it with Western boxing: "Chinese martial arts emphasise restraint—holding back force to avoid harm."  

In a painting gallery, Evan displayed a deep fascination for Chinese art. Using Western techniques, he sketched eagles and birds from the walls.  

Though teased for his "fearless ignorance," he earnestly remarked, "This culture is mesmerising. Even without being told, I’d recognise its Chinese origin by its unique artistic conception."  

He embraced local cuisine, daring to try dishes unavailable in the U.S. Ranking his favourites, he declared: "Hotpot first, hot dry noodles second, Sichuan cuisine third. The aroma of noodles coated in sauce, the cooking techniques—all utterly captivating." His palate became a journal of China’s culinary diversity.  

"After just over 100 days here, I know it’s not enough. It might take years to truly understand Chinese culture," he mused.  

Speaking of China’s rapid development, his eyes sparkled: "Seeing robots deliver food in hotels, I felt I’d stepped into the 30th century."  

Cultural exchange isn’t just personal storytelling—it’s the bridge our era needs. By shedding filters and prejudices, we embrace a pluralistic world.  

"The more I learn, the more I want to protect this cultural environment," Evan said. "I’m building a bridge. My videos are a medium for cultural exchange, sharing China with the world. That’s the essence of globalisation."  

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**This is an era that calls for the wisdom of letting go.**  

From pawnbroker to guardian of civilisation, Evan let go of the lure of profit, mustering the courage to defend truth. In history’s fractures, he built bridges of understanding. In a globalised world, we need more such trailblazers.  

Shede Liquor, crafted through time-honoured "Six Old Techniques,"舍浮华 (releases the fleeting) to得陈香 (embrace aged richness). Every drop matures into a complex, mellow, and crisp flavour.  

Sip the vintage, witness a transcontinental legend, and ponder the wisdom of letting go. What "sacrifice and gain" do you see in Evan Kuhl’s choices?  

**Comments**  

When dreams falter and you hit rock bottom, would you, like Evan, pivot to a new path? Share your "turning point" in the comments. Three selected users will receive a 100ml Shede mini-liquor on May 29.